Newcastle is one of the most iconic cities in England with beautifully preserved city centres. From magnificent concert halls to Victorian shopping malls, it harbors a rich collection of Victorian heritage. But with a closer look, you will be amazed by its cultures, humbled by the generosity and friendliness of the locals, and of course, its thumping nightlife.

The amount of positive energy this city possesses is more than enough to attract millions of tourists each year. As the capital of North East England, Newcastle is the all-in-one package, presenting to you all the qualities of a major European city.

1. What makes Newcastle unique?
2. Newcastle’s popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Newcastle
4. Sport in Newcastle
5. Food in Newcastle
6. Shopping in Newcastle
7. Festivals and events in Newcastle
8. Newcastle living costs
9. Travel in and around Newcastle
10. Explore the UK from Newcastle

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1. What makes Newcastle unique?

Newcastle was once a shipbuilding city, also called Newcastle upon Tyne. Situated on the River Tyne, Newcastle harbors many famous Victorian buildings.

It is home to excellent museums, art galleries and entertainment facilities, along with three large shopping centres. The Theatre Royal and City Hall are prestigious concert halls, often serve as the venue for popular concerts.

The people of Newcastle - ‘Geordies’ as they are called, represent the resilient, energetic spirit of Newcastle. The Geordies conjure an amiable and enjoyable atmosphere, making them extremely likeable even to those foreign to Newcastle. Did you know Mr. Bean- Rowan Atkinson is also a Geordie? You could say his comedic sense embodies the fun, friendly Geordie spirit.

Quite surprisingly, Newcastle is the to-go city for the party people. Newcastle is most renowned for its thumping, energetic nightlife in Britain. They have a huge range of bars and clubs, catering for all of the nightlife needs and budgets.

Newcastle is the world’s smallest big city hence transportation costs would be the last thing to worry about. The general prices in Newcastle are known to be much more affordable than other major cities in the UK.

Newcastle is also the heaven-gifted place for shopping, being home to the biggest shopping mall in the UK, the Eldon Square and Metrocentre. It also has the biggest shopping mall in Europe, called Gateshead. These are all Victorian shopping malls with the perfect urban twist, having a growing reputation among famous fashionistas.

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2. Newcastle’s popular attractions

Newcastle is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Some you might not want to miss include:

• Victoria Tunnel: A brilliant underground tourist attraction, 2.5 miles in distance situated beneath the city from Town Moor to Tyne. This tunnel dates back to 1842, guiding tourists through the fully preserved coal waggonway built in the 19th century. The deep-rooted history is beautifully embodied in this attraction, making it the first out of 128 activities rated in Tripadvisor.
• Grey's Monument: Near the end of Grey Street, you will find the 135-foot tall Grey’s Monument, situated at the heart of the city. It is the most popular meeting place in the city, with a 164-step climb to the column’s viewing platform.
• Grainger Street: Known to be the most attractive shopping streets, rich with innovative cafes and shops. On Grainger Street, the Grainger Market is also a must-visit for those looking for some fun local shopping. It’s filled with over 100 food and good vendors.
• The Quayside: The Quayside district is situated around the Tyne and High Level Bridges. It’s recently been revamped, filled with shops, top-notch restaurants, hotels, nice food, along with the marvelous view of the riverside. This area is also highly accessible to arts-facilities, such as the Sage music centre and Baltic arts centre.
• Jesmond Dene: The signature green scenery in Newcastle, rich with historic wildlife features, flows and woodland. A great place for a peaceful and beautiful walk along the waterfall.
• The Discovery Museum: With a capacious room showcasing Newcastle’s heritage over three floors, along with interactive, hands-on activities for kids, Discovery Museum is the perfect place for those who want to further discover Newcastle’s rich history.
• Theatre Royal: A top-class theatre deeply imbued with Newcastle’s history. The building is full of grandeur, further heightened by beautiful acoustics performed in the theatre.

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3. Nightlife in Newcastle

Newcastle is a party city in England with a thriving nightlife. From the abundance of clubs, pubs and party-venues, you can never ask for a better way to be entertained. Described as one of the most vibrant cities for clubbing, there has been profound progress in its bustling night scene. Perhaps this party vibe is elevated with the famous Geordie spirit, along with the mass of football followers. All-famous stars and DJs are frequently spotted in these scenes, evincing the hype of Newcastle’s nocturnal life.

One famous area for a rowdy, cheerful night out is Newcastle's Bigg Market. This place is very affordable, known for its cheerful dance floor. Located in the centre of the city, Bigg Market hosts one of the wildest nightlife scenes. Near Bigg Market are other famous bars, such as Filthy's, Beir Keller and Mushroom Bar.

For a classy, trendy night out, The Quayside is a great choice. The Quayside is a major tourist attraction in Newcastle, but the scenes surely change at night with upmarket bars with marvelous views of the Tyne Bridge. The Pitcher and Piano is the most popular bar in the district, along with Livello and The Bridge Tavern. Although prices are higher compared to Bigg Market, it’s definitely worth the bill with its top-notch drinks and beautiful landscape.

Another famous choice for a good night out is called Jesmond located in Osborne Road. With its student-heavy population, you can imagine a young, creative and energetic vibe of this nightlife. Osborne Road also hosts several FIFA gaming nights, in a bar called Spy Bar. The Holy Hobo has a fun way of celebrating a festive night, with alcohol being served in a popcorn bucket.

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4. Sport in Newcastle

Newcastle has a deep-rooted tradition of sports throughout history, most popular as the home to the Premiership football club ‘Newcastle United’, along with Newcastle Benfield and Newcastle Blue Star.

Newcastle is also famous for the Guiness Premiership rugby union team, called the Newcastle Falcons and a basketball and ice hockey team - there are plenty of venues to enjoy various sports.

There is also a motorcycle speedway base, a famous venue for its motorcycle team - Newcastle Diamonds. These small sporting venues and parks host many famous sports events every year, most often open to the public.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• St James' Park
• Elswick Community Leisure Centre
• Northern Football Club
• Eldon Leisure Centre
• Blue Flames Sporting Club

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5. Food in Newcastle

A trip to the Newcastle quayside is great for a wide range of excellent meals. Recently revamped, Newcastle has a plethora of top-notch restaurants all adjacent to each other, making them very accessible. Another great place for a broad range of food choices is Grainger street, home to more than 100 food stands. This destination would be great for those looking for affordable, but delicious street food and authentic interaction with the local. There’s also a trusty bakery chain called Greggs, famous for its sausage rolls. It is known as the fast food staple in the North East, plus delivery is also available.

Newcastle’s signature dishes are certainly the Geordie cuisine, its wonderful regional food. The Pink Lane Bakery is famous for its ‘stotties’, a classic Geordie cuisine. It is a massive bread bun around 12 inches long, with the best filling inside. ‘Singin’ Hinnies’ is the Geordie version of the British scone, cooked on a griddle pan. This is perfect for a classic afternoon tea, topped with plum jam and ice cream. Other must-have Geordie cuisine include Craster Kippers, Tyneside Floddies (potato cake, similar to hash browns), Pease Pudding (‘Geordie caviar’ made by yellow peas and ham), Saveloy Dip (delicious sausage sandwich), and Lindisfarne Oysters.

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6. Shopping in Newcastle

Newcastle is a compact city, making its transportation very convenient. That said, it can be a perfect place for serious shoppers, where you can easily move in between famous shopping places within the city.

Home to one of the largest shopping malls in the UK, Eldon Square and Newcastle city centre, your shopping spree has never been more fulfilled. Eldon Square is filled with high street brands, providing a lovely shopping experience in urban sophistication. Similarly, Metrocentre also provides a huge range of shops, along with food stalls to keep the shopper’s tummies full.

For a more cultural and authentic shopping experience, Grainger Market would be the destination. It’s home to a plethora of food, souvenir stores and beautiful flower stalls. A popular gift shop in Newcastle is called ‘The Glamorous Owl’, which supports local artists. Along with beautiful art showcases, this place also hosts creative workshops making small jewelries and rings, great for couples or friends.

Photo credit: Newcastle Chronicle

7. Festivals and events in Newcastle

Newcastle has a number of eclectic festivals and events throughout the year, including:

• This is Tomorrow Festival: Perfect summer festival, hosted during late May with live music from internationally recognised pop stars, attracting hundreds of people.
• Newcastle Mela: Takes place in August annually, this festival celebrates Asian culture in the exhibition park with a diversity of music, entertainment and mouth-watering food.
• Pride Festival: Celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, uplifting their inclusion and respect in the society. The rainbow parade makes the festival extra creative and colorful.

8. Newcastle living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way Ticket (Local transport): £2.50
• Meal out: £12.00
• Fast Food (McDonalds): £6.00
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.25
• Cinema ticket: £8.00
• Taxi (normal tariff): £2.40

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9. Travel in and around Newcastle

Newcastle is the most compact big city. That said, most of the attractions are within close commutes. With public transportation systems such as bus, ferry and taxi rides, you're travelling with much more convenience.

The efficient bus systems operate throughout the region, linking with alternative public transports such as ferry services and trains. Taxis are also widely dispersed through the city.

By Plane

Newcastle has an international airport, situated around 5-6 miles North West of the city centre. From the airport to the main city, a short taxi or metro trip takes less than 30 minutes.

By Train

Newcastle has a single mainline train station called Central Station, located in the southern periphery of the city centre. This train route provides transportation to and from major cities of the UK, including London, Liverpool, Plymouth, Manchester and Edinburgh. Again, upon arrival, a short taxi, or train trip can take you to the desired destination.

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By Car

When traveling by car, you will arrive from the A1, A69, A1058 or A19 road. In the city centre, there are many vacant parking areas, so travelling with a car wouldn’t be of inconvenience. However, care to avoid the rush hour in Newcastle, where up to 30 minutes of delay can occur.

10. Explore the UK from Newcastle

Newcastle is a great starting point to explore nearby beautiful cities in the UK. The Central Station links Newcastle to cities such as Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

Liverpool

Just 5 minutes by car and 18 minutes on a train, you can visit some of the country’s most iconic city with picturesque landmarks and an array of leisure activities.

Liverpool is the city of The Beatles, vibrant culture, and of course, football. Liverpool is a UNESCO world heritage city, home to various historical and cultural treasure, with two cathedrals and eight museums. The Liverpool football club is a must-visit for the sports fans. The Liverpool ONE shopping district would also be excellent for shoppers. All in all, Liverpool is a city rich with its historical treasures, along with the urban sophistication perfect for visitors.

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Sunderland

Within less than 10 minutes by car or train, Sunderland is a unique place with reams of interesting history.

Famed for shipbuilding, glass making, and coal mining, Sunderland is an amazing place for you to experience an array of leisure activities and stroll around some of the most beautiful landmarks. From shopping, eating, and entertainment, Sunderland will get you covered with everything you need.

One of the most famous architectures is the St Peter’s Church. Since the 7th century, it has been home of the Venerable Bede which played a prominent role in the development of Christianity.